How do I Choose: ScreenSaver, Standby, Hibernate or TurnOff

Fairly recently I changed from Windows98 to WindowsXP Home Edition Sp1. I am still climbing the XP learnng curve.
Does Standby, Hibernate or TurnOff/reboot cause wear and tear on the computer? When you leave the compter for an Estimated Time away [which may vary from half-hour to 3 days], how do you pick A.ScreenSaver, B.Standby, C.Hibernate, or D.TurnOff/reoot?
Please give me your advice by idicating a letter [A, B, C, or D] as your choice if the Estimated Time is:
1.Half hour 2.Three hours 3.Eight hours

4. Twenty-four hours or 5. Three days

Maybe this is a dumb question, so tell me,please, what I need to worry about when going away from my computer. Thanks!!---------Lee

 

1.) A.

2.) A.

3.) A.

4.) D.

5.) D.

Actually I don't use a screen saver but don't let that stop you.

I also don't use standby or hibernate because I don't believe they are worth the risk and drive space. Again, don't let that stop you if you like either of them. I will say that I had problems with both of them and considered them to not be worth the data risk or drive space. YMMV.

 

I agree with surferdude2. I don't use Hibernate, Standby, or have my harddrives power down. We tested all of these options at work to determine the minimum power usage. They all created unstable situations and were likly to crash pc.
As for the rest, when I'm home my pc is on. I have it set to defrag and perform other duties while I'm asleep. If I remember, I'll turn it as leave for work. But sometimes it's on for days at a time.

 

And whenever I answer any multiple choice question involving A, B, C, D and E, I always answer 1,2,3,4 or 5.
Or maybe A,2,C,4 and Z.

 

Thanks Surferdude and Jheibeck for you replies. Sounds to me as if Microsoft was selling a bill goods when icorporating Standby and Hibedrnate in to Windows XP. Hope I get a few more answers telling of experience with Standby and Hibernate, and when to use them, if at all. -------- Lee

 

It all depends on the type of computer also, for a newer model, it shouldn't have any problems running in standby, i used to have this one on standby for 2 years, with no problems or crashes. just recently turned it off. now when i leave i just turn the monitor off. However, standby/hibernate seemed to have disasterous results on a friends older PC. It worked for awhile but after a couple of years it seemed to degrade the videocard. Could have possibly be caused by something else but, better safe than sorry.

 

I use hibernate nearly all the time because it is much quicker than a shut-down to enter, and much quicker than a boot to be up and running. When a programme or an update requires it I re-boot.
I have been doing this since XP was available and have never had a problem, apart from those caused by programmes like Go Back, or Partition Magic.
Roger

 

FWIW, I agree completely with Surferdude2- 1 thru 3 "A" and 4 or longer, "D ". I do not use Standby, and would love to know a way to take it off of my "standby-turn off-restart" screen. Hibernate is disabled. When I want my computer, I tap the spacebar and go immediately to the desktop from the screensaver. When I have "guests ", I leave the comp locked (WinKey + L) and my password is needed to log on. This is a fairly controversial subject...click here

Johanna

 

Johanna, Do yourself a favor, dispense with using the Start > Turn Off Computer > select icon method. Simply create a couple of shortcuts to do what you want and save some mouse clicks.

Reboot shortcut target:

%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -r -t 00 -f


Shutdown shortcut target:


%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00

Then you can rename them as you like and even drag them to your Quick Launch toolbar as I have. I changed their icons so the reboot is a green twisted arrow and the shutdown is a stop sign. Then it requires only a single click to reboot or shutdown. You'll no longer have to wade through all the MS maze to get your wish.

 

SD2, Great minds think alike...look at my QL bar below:
The 5th icon is "stop now ", and the sixth is "reboot" (The third one over is instant screensaver! LOL) Have been using it this way for a couple of years.

Johanna

 

Unbelievable! Such is rare.

But I'll bet you don't have the shutdown delay time set so that it allows you to use the monitor light to see your way to bed after turning the room light off.

I actually have the shortcut pointing to a batch file that does a backup of my mail folder before running the shutdown command. Perhaps you'll think about using that for something you need backed up or some other chore that comes to mind.

As you probably know, the available switches for the shutdown command are displayed when you type shutdown in a command window.

Best regards.

 

SD2,
4th icon over is shortcuts( with some other stuff that I threw in the folder when I was moving into the new comp...)


Johanna